Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County was incorporated Dec. 1, 1990, as the 535th affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. This organization's staffers and volunteers sell newly constructed or renovated homes to qualified families and individuals who live or work in Bucks County and meet program qualifications. The group's first groundbreaking took place during May 1993.
Habitat Bucks' supporters are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.
According to the group's statistics, 1,140 volunteers help further the local Habitat mission each year. The group has built 134 homes, and repaired more than 366.
Newtown Presbyterian Church and Newtown Monthly Friends Meeting representatives are among those who recently sponsored Habitat projects. Other local entities that have assisted include Newtown Quaker Meeting, Greater Newtown Exchange Club, Bank of America Newtown branch, the Newtown/Yardley office of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and First National Bank and Trust Company of Newtown.
In one effort, Bonnie Porter and her art students raised $370 for Habitat Bucks through their Newtown Art for Kids initiative by having a collection jar and selling note cards that featured student paintings at the Countryside Gallery & Custom Frame Design gallery.
Habitat supporters are fond of saying: "We do more than build homes, we change lives." The countywide organization now has office locations in Warminster, Levittown and Quakertown.
The group's large, annual fundraiser, Hard Hats & High Heels, is slated to be held Thursday, May 7, from 6-9:30 p.m. at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland. The event will include a cocktail reception, silent auction with Designer Challenge pieces, a seated dinner, transformational story from a Habitat homebuyer and a live auction.